Day 927: Royal fork
Target rating: 1961
Lesson of the day
A royal fork is a fork with check — one of the two targets is the king itself. The check must be answered first, so nobody is left to rescue the second piece. Look for squares where your piece gives check and simultaneously attacks an undefended queen or rook. It is the most reliable fork of all, because your opponent literally has no choice.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b8·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (e3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a8·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e7 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to g5 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c2 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to g3 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: queen to e8 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: knight to e2 (f4·6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to g2 (g7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: queen to e4 (c6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: queen to c2 (c1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e7 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (c2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to d7 (f5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to a6 (e2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e8 (h5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 928 →